Some workers at local hospitals were given holiday breaks by volunteers from B'nai B'rith Mahoning Lodge 339. The service organization volunteered to work at gift shops and information desks at four area hospitals so staff members could spend their holidays with their family members.

Neil Altman, a co-coordinator of Operation Snowflake, said the local B'nai B'rith lodge has been doing this since 1978.

"We had about 20 volunteers at the four hospitals this year," Altman said. "Our volunteers really enjoyed themselves."